Roof seaming machine



May 30, 1939 o. R. MAxFu-:LD 2,160,336

ROOF SEAMING MACHINE A TTORNEYS.

May 30, 1939. ol R. MAXFIELDv 2,160,335

ROOF sEAMiNG MACHINE Filed May 26, 1958 3 sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

May 30, 1939.

o, R. MAxFlELD y 2,160,336

ROOF SEAMING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 30, 1939 UNHTED STATES PATENT @FFICE RooF SEAMING'MACHINE- n omer it. Mainela; Temple; 'rx ApplieationMay 26', 193s; serial Nc. 210,249 2 Claims. (ol. 1ra-55')v This invention relates to machines designed primarily for forming seamsconnecting sheets of metal roofing, one of the objects being to provide a machine which can be operated -to travel longitudinally of the meeting upstanding edge portions of the meta-l sheet and, during such movement, will bend the edge portions by successive operations to produce an interlocking standing seam. v v f A further object is to provide metal bending and compressing elements which can -be adjusted readily into proper positions for the purpose of producing-the desired results, a suitable power means being provided for the purposel of operating said lelement and, incidentally, driving-the mechanism along the seam during its formation.

With -the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear asv the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter moreV fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing fromA the 'spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,'the'preferred form ofthe invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the machine, a portion of the motor being broken away.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the opposite side of the machine.

Figure 3 is a sectionon line 3 3, `Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6,l Figure y1.

Figure 7 is a section on line 'I L'Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8,`Figure 1.

Figure!) is an elevation of the gripping and turning rolls shown-in Figure 5 but adjusted to eifect the rst bend in the second folding operation.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the roll shown in Figure 6 and showing it'carryin'g out the second step of the second folding operation.

Figure 11 is an elevation of the rolls shown vin Figure 7 and illustrating them carrying out the third step of the second folding operation.

Figure 12- is=an elevation of the roll shown in Figure 8 and illustrating the nal or compressing step of the second folding operation-- -Reierring to the figures by characters of reference .I designates the topf plate and-2 and 3 designate the respective end plates-of the frame of the machine. Oneof `theend plates, `'2,hasea Vframejean-thus befsupportedat any'desired disftance `from the surface on which; the casters are mounted. I

Connecting the-end plates2 and 3vat one side is a longitudinal bar I3 and extending longitudinally of the frame along the bottom of the top plate I lisabar I4 providing bearings for the upper ends of a series of shafts which extend through andare journalled Vvvithin af lower bearing bar I5 connectingjthe end plates.`

Four `lparallel-shafts I6, I1, I8 yand I 9 are journalled inthe bar "I5," the lshafts I6," I8 fand I9 being heldagainstup and `down movement by collars 20-*secured'thereto 4and bearing against the bar whileshaft II is limited in its downward movement by a collar 69 which bears downwardly on the bar under normal conditions. The upper ends of shafts I6,"I, and I9 are journalled in the topbea'ring bar "I4 and eachiof them is provided with a worm gear 22 in constant mesh with a Worm 23 carried by a longitudinal shaft 24. This shaft is journalled in the end plates I and 2 'and its 'forward end projects into a gear case 25 containing a worm gear 26 'secured to shaft 24`andreceiving motion from a Worm 21 on a transverse shaft 28. This shaft has a pulley 29 adaptedk to receive motion ythrough'a belt 30'frorn a motor-3| mounted on the top plate `I.

Each ofthe shafts I6, I8 and'IS has a gear 32 meshing with'anothergear 33 and these latter gears 33 Mare carried by 'shafts 34, 35 and 36 respectively at one side of'and normally parallel with -shaftsl6 and I9. The upper ends of shafts 34, 35 and 36 arejournalled in blocks having oppositelyl extendingibearing pins- 38fa1l o f which are alirr'ed and journailed within combined spacing 'and supporting; blocks 39 'secured to the bottom of thetop plate I. y

Shaft 34- 7is"journall'e'din a vIoeaingiblock 46 which is lslidable'transverselyf of the machine be'- tvveenL guides-*1IV which connect the bars I3 and -I 5i 7 Colla-rs fdfsecured '-tothis shaft' vholdV it against upward and downward movement relative to its bearing. A spring 53 is interposed between bearing block li@ and bar I5, sockets 44 being provided for the ends of the spring. Another spring i5 bears against the opposite side of block 45 and extends into a recess 45 in bar I3` This recess extends back into a boss 41 formed on bar I3. An adjusting screw 48 is in engagement with the boss and constitutes a thrust bearing for spring 45. By means of this screw the tension of spring 45 can be regulated.

Another bearing block 49 is journalled between two of the guides ii and is engaged by shaft 35. A spring 55 is interposed between this bearing block and bar i while another spring 5I` bears against the opposite side of the block and extends into a deep socket 52 formed in bar I3 and a' boss 53 thereon. By means of a screw 54 the compression of the spring 5I can be regulated.

A third bearing block 55 is slidably mounted between two of the guides 4I and is engaged by shaft there being collars 58 on this sh-aft for holding it against sliding movement within the bearing block. A spring 51 is interposed between this block and the bar l5 while another spring 55 thrusts against the opposite side of the bearing block and is seated in a socket 59 extending into a boss 55 on bar I3. A screw 6I constitutes a thrust bearing for spring 58 and by means thereof the compression of the spring can be varied.

Secured to the lower end of shaft IS is a gripping roll 52 the periphery ofv which is preferably rcughened and a turning flange 53 extends outwardly from the upper portion ofthe roll so as to overly the peripheral portion of another gripping roll Eli carried bythe lower end of shaft 3ft and also formed preferably with a roughened periphery.

The lower end of shaft i1 has a laterally extending stud 55 on which is journalled a depressing roli 55 formed with a substantially V-shaped peripheral groove and rotating in a pl-ane parallel with the direction of movement of the machine. A spring 51 is mounted on shaft I1 and exerts a downward thrust against a head or enlargement 58 at the lower end of the shaft, this downward movement being limited by a collar 59 secured to the shaft and normally bearing upon the bar I5.

To the lower end of shaft i8 vis secured a gripping roll 1E formed preferably with a roughened periphery and to the lower end of the adjoining shaft is secured a bracket 1l having a downwardly and laterally inclined arm 12 supporting an upwardly and laterally inclined bearing stud i3. having a substantially .l-shaped peripheral groove the lower wall of which is substantially parallel at its lower portion with the adjacent portion of the periphery of roll 15. The upper wall of the groove 1li is adapted to overlie the peripheral portion of roll 15. Meshing gears 15 and 15 are carried by shaft I8 and roll 14 respectively so that the two rolls i5 and 14 are thus caused to rotate in unison in opposite directions respectively.

To the lower end of each of the shafts I9 and 36 is secured a compressing roll 11 and 18 respectively, the peripheries of these two rolls being preferably roughened as shown.

When the machine herein described is to be used the roofing sheets are first placed together with upstanding side flanges in Contact. In the drawings two of these sheets have been shown Gn this stud is jcurnalled a folding roll 14V at S while the contacting upstanding flanges have been shown at A and B respectively. The flange B extends above the flange A. After the plates to be joined have been assembled, the machine is placed astride the flanges so that its casters will rest on the plates as shown. The machine is then adjusted upwardly or downwardly relative to its casters in order to bring the rolls 62 and 64 in such positions as to turn the upper portion of flange B as shown in Figure 5 without correspondingly turning flange A. This adjustment of the machine should also be such as to bring the other rolls thereof substantially to the positions shown n'Figures 5, 6, '1 and 8. The shafts 34, 35 and 36 are swung away from the corresponding shafts I6, I8 and I9 to permit the flanges to enter between the rolls and to allow the roll 66 to bear downwardly on the upper portion of flange B, as shown in Figure 6. With the machine thus adjusted and located and the several springs 45, 5I and 58 placed under proper compression by means of their adjusting screws, the motor 3I is set in motion, transmitting power through the belt 30 and pulley 29 to shaft 28, which, in turn, through its driven gearing, causes the shaft 23 to operate and drive the gears on shaft I6, I8 and I9. At the same time motion will be transmitted from gears I6 and I9 to the gears on shafts 34 and 36. As rolls 62 and 63 are held in gripping engagement with the flanges A and B, the machine will be moved forwardly thereby and flange 63 will turn the upper portion of flange B so as to eX- tend laterally over flange A as shown in Figure 5. Thereafter roll 66 travelling along the laterally bent portion of flange B will cause it to be folded or depressed downwardly as in Figure 6. Thereafter this folded or depressed portion of flange B will enter between the rolls 14 and 1l] which will complete the folding operation and this will be followed by the compressing operation exerted by the rolls 11 and 18 which, obviously, cooperate with the rolls 62 and 64 to propel the machine forwardly.

The foregoing operation completes the first fold.

After the`rst fold has been produced by moving the machine once along the meeting flanges of the sheets, the machine is lowered relative to its casters a distance substantially equal to the height of the downturned portion of flange B. Thus when the machine is again driven along the standing seam the rolls 62 and 64 with flange 63 again will cooperate to impart the rst or lateral bend of the final seaming operation as shown in Figure 9. Next will follow roll 66 which will impart the second bend to the standing flanges as in Figure and this roll will be followed by the cooperating rolls 14 and 10 which, as in Figure 11, will complete the second fold of the seam which subsequently will be tightly compressed and sealed between the compressing rolls 11 and 18 as in Figure 12. Thus a double standing seam is produced forming a tight joint between the plates.

It is to be understood that suitable handles, portions of which have been indicated at 19 can be located at the ends of the machine whereby the seams can be manipulated into position astride the flanges of the roofing plates.

By mounting the shafts 34, 35 and 36 so that they can swing laterally, it is possible for their rolls to yield when subjected to more than ordinary resistance by the metal extending into the passes between the rolls. Furthermore by utilizing adjustable springs, the pressure exerted by the rolls can be varied at will.

It has been found in practice that a machine such as herein described is capable of producing standing seams more quickly than by other means and that these seams thus produced are very eicient because of the heavy compression to which the parts are subjected. Thus the seams are made water-tight, it having been found that, by seaming a roof with this machine, leakage will not occur even though the level of the water should extend above the top of the seams.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for forming standing seams on flanged roong sheets including a wheel-supported frame, shafts arranged in pairs and supported within the frame, one shaft of each pair being mounted for lateral swinging, motor driven means on the frame for simultaneously driving the shaft of two pairs, gripping rolls carried by the shaft of said driven pairs positioned to receive the upstanding anges therebetween and to grip them, means rotatable with one roll of one of the pairs for overturning the upper portion of one of the gripped flanges, all of said gripping rolls cooperating with the flanges to propel the machine along the flanges, cooperating rolls on one pair of shafts for folding the laterally turned portion of one of the flanges downwardly against the opposed flange, and means rotatable with said last named rolls for transmitting motion in opposite directions from one to the other, adjustable yielding means engaged by one shaft of each of the pairs and constituting a bearing therefor, for urging the roll on said shaft toward the opposed shaft of said pair, and a yieldingly pressed roll interposed between the rolls of two of the pairs for imparting an intermediate bend to the laterally turned flange during the movement of the machine along the seam, and means for adjusting the frame of the machine toward or from its supporting surface to vary the elevation of the rolls relative to said surface.

2. A machine for forming standing seams of flanged roofing sheets including a wheel-supported frame, shafts arranged in pairs and supported within the frame, "one shaft of each pai'r being mounted for lateral swinging, motor driven means on the frame for simultaneously driving the shaft of two pairs, gripping rolls carried by the shaft of said driven pairs positioned to re` ceive the upstanding anges therebetween and to grip them, means rotatable with one roll of one of the pairs for overturning the upper portion of one of the gripped anges, all of said gripping rolls cooperating with the flanges to propel the machine along the flanges, cooperating rolls on one pair of shafts for folding the laterally turned portion of one of the flanges downwardly against the opposed flange, and means rotatable with said last named rolls for transmitting motion in oppo` site directions from one to the other, adjustable yielding means engaged by one shaft of each of the pairs and constituting a bearing therefor, for urging the roll on said shaft toward the opposed shaft of said pair, and a yieldingly pressed roll interposed betwen the rolls of two of the pairs for imparting an intermediate bend to the laterally turned flange during the movement of the machine along the seam, and yielding means for resisting the movement of the movable shaft of each pair toward the other shaft of said pair.

OMER R. MAXFIELD. 

